Submitted by San Juan County
Saturday, June 15, the heart of San Juan Island officially opens for day-use public access. Over nearly 20 years, the Land Bank has endeavored to conserve portions of Cady Mountain – piecing together six separate transactions between 2003 – 2022, culminating in 470 acres protected. Join the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an open house and guided tours!
Identified by The Nature Conservancy as an important climate resiliency area, the 2021 addition boasts high diversity wildflower areas, extensive Madrona and Douglas-fir forests, several intermittent streams, and serves as the key piece to providing trail connection from Cady Mountain Preserve to the National Historical Park’s English Camp and Roche Harbor Highlands trails system.
The Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust partnered on the 2021 addition to the Cady Mountain conservation area – joining forces, funds, and each other’s complementary strengths to protect the property. Through the San Juan Preservation Trust, 50 donors contributed over $500,000 to help the project succeed.
Meander the Preserve’s 1.5-mile trail from the new trailhead at Three Corner Lake Road to the scenic lookout above West Valley Road on your own or join a scheduled guided tour! Tour details can be found on the Land Bank’s online calendar: sjclandbank.org/event/cady-mountain-preserve-opening/.
Due to limited on-site parking, the Land Bank has organized a roundtrip shuttle bus from Friday Harbor to the Preserve. You can catch the shuttle at the County Courthouse parking area located at the corner of Second Street and Blair Avenue. The shuttle will pick up and drop off on the half-hour, starting at 10:45 a.m.
About San Juan County Conservation Land Bank
The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, funded by a 1% real estate excise tax paid by purchasers of property at closing, acquires and preserves areas in the county that have environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, cultural, scientific, historic, scenic, or low-intensity recreational value. The Land Bank office is located at 328 Caines Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about the Land Bank, visit www.sjclandbank.org.
About the San Juan Preservation Trust
Founded by a group of island citizens in 1979, the San Juan Preservation Trust is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nationally accredited land trust dedicated to helping people and communities conserve land in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. The Preservation Trust is not affiliated with any government agency and does not receive direct tax revenue. Financial support comes from the voluntary contributions of more than 2,000 private individuals, families, and foundations. Connect with us online at www.sjpt.org.
